ABSTRACT
The Introduction discusses the topic of the book and its three main purposes. The first one is to explain the theory of consciousness elaborated by the school of Recognition (Pratyabhijñā), in particular by the two key philosophers of the tradition, Utpaladeva and Abhinavagupta (tenth and eleventh c. CE). The second aim of the book is to interpret the theories of Indian thinkers in the light of the contemporary analytic debate, trying to explore connections and similarities. The third aim is to evaluate the historical impact of the grammarian and philosopher Bhartṛhari (fifth c. CE) on the thinkers of the Pratyabhijñā.
